Tape dispenser



March 3, 1 E H. s. JERNIGAN TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1962 TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. 5. (fern United States Patent 3,123,266 TAPE DISPENSER Holley S. Jernigan, Midland, Mich., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 177,287 2 Claims. (Cl. 225-48) This invention relates to an improvement in a container for holding and dispensing heavy gauge pressure sensitive plastic tape.

The tape with which the invention is concerned may be of the pressure sensitive polyethylene type, having a paper backing which is removable to expose the adhesive surface of the tape. The receptacle has certain novel features which make it especially well suited for holding and dispensing a heavy gauge tape. More particularly, the receptacle may be formed of a single sheet of cardboard, and has a self-locking construction which requires no extra material to maintain it in assembled condition. In addition, the receptacle of the invention includes a cutting element which is arranged for effective cutting of the tape in selective length, said cutting element being further arranged in fully supported position on a corner edge of the receptacle. The receptacle is formed to provide protection to the cutting element during shipment so as to avoid damage thereto.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improvement in a container for holding and dispensing heavy gauge pressure sensitive plastic tape.

A more specific object is to provide a tape receptacle which may be formed of a single sheet of cardboard, and which has a self-locking construction requiring no extra material to maintain the receptacle in assembled condition.

Another object is to provide a tape receptacle having a cutting element arranged for effective cutting of the tape in selective lengths.

Still another object is to provide a tape receptacle having means to protect the cutting element during shipment.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective-like view of a tape dispenser illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view, slightly enlarged, as seen from line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective-like view of a polyethylene pressure sensitive tape of the type which may be advantageously held in the dispenser of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank as cut and scored and from which the dispenser of FIG. 1 is formed.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 6 identifies a container which functions as a dispenser for a roll of heavy gauge tape 8 which, for example, can run as much as 6 mils or more in thickness. The latter may be a pressure sensitive polyethylene tape having a paper backing 16, which is removed from the tape prior to use.

The dispenser 6 is preferably made of a heavy paper, such as .30 caliper white clay coated kraft carton stock, and is formed from a flat blank 12, as shown in FIG. 5.

The blank 12 has a centrally disposed portion consisting of a plurality of rectangular sections 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 arranged in attached sequential order. Sections 16, 18 and 26, are of substantially equal length, while the combined length of sections 22 and 24 is slightly more than the length of section 20. A pair of flap sections 26 are formed integrally with the section 14, While a pair of flap sections 28 are formed integrally with the section 18. Flap sections 26 each have a curved slot 30 adapted to receive in hooked engagement, an ear, or finger 32 formed integrally at an edge of a flap section 28.

A pair of side wall sections 34 are formed integrally with the section 16, each of said sections 34, having a notched flap portion 36, with a pair of notches 38 extending inwardly along a fold line from opposite edges of the flap portion. It will be observed that the broken, or dash lines separating the various sections, are crease lines adapted to provide regulated folding of the various sections to form the receptacle 6.

A cutting element, in the form of a knife blade, or bar 40, having a serrated cutting edge 42 is affixed to the section 16, the edge 42 being arranged to extend slightly above the section 14, when the receptacle 6 is in formed condition, as best seen in FIG. 2.

To form the receptacle, the sections 14 and 18 are bent so as to be in parallel relation and normal to the section 16. The flap sections 26 are then bent so as to be in parallel relation and normal to the sections 14 and 16. Flap sections 28 are then bent so as to be in parallel relation and normal to the sections 18 and 16. The fingers 32 are placed in an adjacent slot 30 so that the flap sections 26 and 28 are held together. The side wall sections 34 are then bent so as to be in parallel relation and in abutment with an adjoining flap section 28. The section 20 is then bent so as to be normal to the section 18, thus forming a box-like structure which is square in vertical projection as seen in FIG. 2. The section 22 is then bent into engagement with the section 14. It will be noted that the free end of section 14 is a short distance from section 20, thus leaving a gap, or slot, 44 for pas sage of the tape during dispensing. Section 24 is glued to section 14, such as at the three spots 46 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5. The end of section 24 is adapted to extend over the edge of the cutting element 40 about A inch, or so, to form a protective shield for the cutting edge during shipment and handling. The flap portions 36 are each bent normal to a respective side wall section 34, and inserted in the space beneath the section 14, the notches 38 hooking onto the edges of the flap sections 26 and 28. It is to be understood, of course, that the roll of tape 8, is positioned in the receptacle at some stage of assembly, and before the section 24 is glued in position.

To condition the receptacle for use, the sections 24 and 22, are lifted from engagement with the section 14, and the section 24 is torn from section 22. The latter is then placed in the receptacle to serve as a supporting guide for the tape, as seen in FIG. 2. The tape 8 is threaded through the slot 44 in readiness for use.

In using the dispenser, a length of tape in the amount desired is pulled past the cutting edge 42, following which the tape is pulled down upon and severed by the cutting edge. It will be noted that the position of the cutter bar 40, i.e., extending normal to the direction of the tape upon the section 14, provides a more effective cutting edge than if the cutting bar extended parallel with the tape, as in some receptacle constructions.

It will be seen that a tape dispenser made in accordance with the principles of the invention will satisfy the objectives set forth hereinbefore.

The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tape dispenser comprising a box-like structure formed of a folded blank having a plurality of endjoined, centrally aligned rectangular sections, one of said sections being removable, and flap sections afiixed to the sides of said rectangular sections, said structure having a slot at a first corner, a cutting element affixed to the structure at a second corner, said cutting element projecting a short distance beyond and normal to the surface of said box-like structure which extends between said first and said second corner, interlocking means integral with the structure to maintain it in assembled condition, said removable rectangular section being arranged to extend over said cutting element prior to removal, and its adjoining section being adapted to fit into said slot and into said structure to serve as a tape guide.

2. A blank for forming a box-like structure for use as a tape dispenser comprising a centrally disposed portion consisting of a plurality of rectangular sections arranged in end-to-end joined order, flap sections formed integrally with the free edges of at least three adjacent rectangular sections, a crease line between each rectangular section and between the flap sections affixed thereto, in-

4- terlocking means comprising slots and hooks on said flap sections which overlap when said rectangular sections and their afiixed flap sections are folded at right angular positions along said crease line, a cutting element afiixed to the rectangular section adjacent to one end of the plurality of end-to-end joined rectangular sections, and extending slightly over said adjacent rectangular section, the other end of said end-to-end rectangular section having a length to extend slightly over said cutting element when said blank is assembled into a box-like structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,028 Rossi July 13, 1943 2,463,375 Gluck Mar. 1, 1949 2,889,098 Durdan June 2, 1959 2,936,937 Guyer May 17, 1960 3,002,667 Buttery Oct. 3, 1961 

1. A TAPE DISPENSER COMPRISING A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE FORMED OF A FOLDED BLANK HAVING A PLURALITY OF ENDJOINED, CENTRALLY ALIGNED RECTANGULAR SECTIONS, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING REMOVABLE, AND FLAP SECTIONS AFFIXED TO THE SIDES OF SAID RECTANGULAR SECTIONS, SAID STRUCTURE HAVING A SLOT AT A FIRST CORNER, A CUTTING ELEMENT AFFIXED TO THE STRUCTURE AT A SECOND CORNER, SAID CUTTING ELEMENT PROJECTING A SHORT DISTANCE BEYOND AND NORMAL TO THE SURFACE OF SAID BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CORNER, INTERLOCKING MEANS INTEGRAL WITH THE STRUCTURE TO MAINTAIN IT IN ASSEMBLED CONDITION, SAID REMOVABLE RECTANGULAR SECTION BEING ARRANGED TO EXTEND OVER SAID CUTTING ELEMENT PRIOR TO REMOVAL, AND ITS ADJOINING SECTION BEING ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID SLOT AND INTO SAID STRUCTURE TO SERVE AS A TAPE GUIDE. 